Luminous tube sign



March 9, 1937, y A I H, HQTCHNER I 2,072,986

LUMINOUS TUBE ISIGN Filld Feb. 1l, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet lK INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS.

45' Figure 1.

Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STA-Tes "PATENTSQFFICI:

` zl ,o'iz,9sis LUMlNoUs TUBE sionv narnia Betonnen, san Francisco, oalif. Application February, 11, 1936, sei-lain. 63,389

11 claims.

My invention relates to a luminous tube sign; and more particularlyto such a sign wherein the effect of a silhouette letter may be obtained,

'I he main object of my invention is to more fully utilize the light from a luminous tube` t0 obtain asign .of unique characteristics.

Among the other objects of my invention are:

To provide a sign wherein araised character is shown dark against an illuminated background;

to provide a luminescent tube 'sign wherein .`the

tube acts in a dual capacity, i. e., supplieslight directly, and by reflection, to provide novel ef' fects; to provide a luminescent tube sign which is effective in daytime as well as at night; to

provide a luminescent tube signv capable of utilizing, to the best extent', the more legible color combinations; and to provide a luminescent-tube sign utilizing the light emitted from a luminous tube to a maximum extentand fornovel eiects.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent or will be specifically pointed out inthe description forming a part of this specification, but I do not limit myself to the embodiment of the invention hereinidescrlbed, as various forms may be adopted within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan'view of a single letter of one preferred embodiment of the sign of my invention. v Figure 2 is a sectional view, partly in elevaure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar view, taken as indicatedl partly in section, taken as indicated by the line 5 5 in Figure 4. 40 Figure 6 is a view, partly in elevation and 6--6 in Figure 4.-

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, taken as indicated by the line l-l in Figures 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic ,sections illustrating variations in the structure'of my raised' characters. Y

Referring directly to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates'the letter I constructed in accordance with my present invention. v

As is usual with luminous tube signs, the sign body proper is provided with a sign face I on which is mounted a. luminous tube 2 having electrodes 3 at each end thereof, these electrodes aroundthe tube at all points.

tion, taken as indicated by the line 2-2 in Figpartly in section, taken as indicated by the line acters, it is obvious that the tube itself will trace dropping into receptacles 4 attached tothe sign `face I. The luminous tube is held inposition,

spaced from -the sign face, by glass uprights 5- towhich the tub`e 4is. tied by wires Ii. Connection to a suitable transformer is made through wire .5 1, as is well. known lx1-the art. l

The letter I is formed, preferably from sheet metal, `and has a character face 8 surrounded -by a beveled edge I0, bent toward the sign face but spaced therefrom so that an opening -II is formed all around the edge of the letter, between the edges and the sign face. The letter is mainftained in this position by spacers I2, and the -central portion of the character face 9 is cut out in the form of a slot toallow the tube 2 to 15 nt therein, leaving a small .margin of clearance I prefer to position the tube in the slot in such a manner that it is substantially in the plane of the character surface, although the spirit of myv invention is not affected by moving the tube slightly above or below that plane.

In Figure 4, I have shown substantially the same arrangement except that in this case lI have illustrated the letter F which, as is well knownin the art, contains a-doubleback I4 in the smaller bar of the letter. VThis double-back is necessary in order to form such a letter from continuous tubing, and in this case I prefer to drop vthe return tubing I5- in the double-back below the level of the character face, as is shown in Figure 5, where the return I5 is seen to bewell below the level of the character face 9. All of the letters of the alphabet, fancy borders or other characters may be constructed in accordance with the'teachings for the letters above described, and when the tube is illuminated a unique effect is obtained, winch may be more fully explained bydrect reference to Figure 10,` which is .a diagram showing the various light paths involved. I

' In the rst place, the tube will give direct light radiating away from the face of the sign, and as the tube and slot follow the contour of the char- ,the character. Light WHL-however, be radiated from the tube toward the signface and will be reflected therefrom back through the slot to re enforcethe direct light of the tube, as indicated .by the lines I6 in Figure 10. At the same time, lightA will be` reflected from underneath the raisedletter through opening I I, and'will appear as a glow on the sign surface I. The letter itself, however, comprising theiront surface 9 and the beveled edgcslIi, will prevent this glow vfrom eusl , terial.

being seen from the front, on those portions of the-sign surface I obscured by raised letter ma- Thus. the raised letter itself willappear insilhouette and will effectively have a central high intensity illumination and a sharp edge illumination, due to reflection beyond the letter from the sign face, as indicated by the lines Il in Figure 10. The effect given -to the eye is peculiar, namely, that of abiack letter having a brilliant central portion, the black letter being outlined by a diffused glow. K

Heretofora fraised letter signs have had a luminous tube mounted on top of the raised letters, and in order to obtain proper reflection from the background, the raised .letter has customarily'been painted with light colors, and the sign surface itself with .dark'colors However, thisl is not the bestcolor combination for daylight legibility, the most legible being a black letter on a lightyellow background. Due to the fact that reflection usually is desired, however,

' from a luminescent tube, such a combination is not commonly used. My type of letter, however, is" ideal for the purpose. Inasmuch as I utilize my main sign surface for reflection, I am able to paint it a light color; and inasmuch as I do not illuminate the raised letter surface in any event by the tube, it being in silhouette, I may paint the entire letter black, thus obtainingthe highest daylight legibility with a maximum reflective ability from the sign surface I, which not only acts to outline the letter but also aids in reflecting light directly through the slot in line with the tube itself to reenforce direct light.

I am also able to obtain various color combinations by varying the color of the reflective background. In this manner I am able to obtain variations in color, the central tube itself,

Y of' course, giving its own proper light whereas the reflected glow at the edge of the letter will be that of the tube, modified by the color of the background.

Furthermore, by placing my double-backs below the level of the character surface 9, all the light generated by the double-backs is utilized for reflection, and the material of the raised.

letter itself effectively hides the double-backs .from the observer in front of the sign. Therefore, my sign may be viewed from an angle and not be distorted by double-backs, as is ordinarily the case with naked tubes on a sign face.

In Figures 8 and 9, I have shown variations in the structure of the light barriers positioned on each side of the tube. In Figure 8 the beveled edges I0 and character surface 9 have been merged into curved surface, whereas in Figure 9 the bevels have been placed next to the tube.

The net result in each caseis the same, namely, at night, a dark letter with a brilliant central illumination and a soft, sharp edge illumination. due to reflection from the sign surface.

This reection, of course, will extend for some distance on each side of the letter, and if it is desirable to limit the distance to which the side illumination extends, I may prefer to place around the letter a raised border I8 having an angular surface I9 facing the reflection from beneath the letter. The surface I9 will give a sharp outer outline to the reflected light and prevent it from merging, if desired, with the reflected light from an adjoining letter.

Furthermore, may also prefer to increase the reflective ability of the underside of the raised letter by either painting it a light color or coating it with a highly'refilective material, such as aluminum,'or burnishing' it.' In all cases, I prefer to mount the tube in a slot in a-letter which is raised from the main body of the sign.

It is ofcourse to be understood that the word character, used herein, refers to running borders and scroll Work as well as to letters and numerals, as the effect in all cases will be the same.

I claim:

1. A luminous tube sign comprising a sign face,

a raised character mounted thereon having a character face spaced from said sign face. and having character edges following the contour of said character spaced from said sign face by a1 character face spaced from said sign face, and

3. A luminous tube sign comprising a sign face;

a raised lcharacter mounted thereon having a character face spaced from said sign face, and

having character edges following the contour of said character spaced from said sign face by a lesser distance than the spacing oi said character face, said character face having a slot therein, a luminous tube so positioned and arranged in said slot as to be visible 4per se, and additionally to direct light past said character edges within said character to illuminate said sign face beyond the extent of said character, and means attached to and raised from said sign face and following the contour of said character for confining said latter illumination to a definite distance beyond said character.

4. A luminous tube sign comprising a sign face,

a raised character mounted thereon having a character face spaced from said sign face, kand having character edges following the contour of said character spaced from said sign face by a lesser distance'than the spacing of said character face, said character face having a slot therein, a

luminous tube so'positioned and arranged in said slot as to be visible per se, and additionally to direct light past said character edges within said character to illuminate said sign face beyond the vextent of said character, and a raised barrier on said face and causing said face to be illuminated.y

by reflected light, and a light-proof barrier lowing the extent of the slot in said character without touching the edges thereof, and separate means for supporting said tube from said face.

7. In combination.v a sign face, a slotted character, means for supporting said character from said face, a luminous tube positioned in and i'ol-` lowing the slot in said character without' touching the edges thereof, said vtube emerging through apertures in said sign face, and means for sup-l porting said tube from said face independently of.

the support for said character.

' 8.- In combination, a colored sign face, a colored' slotted character, means for supporting said character from said sign face, a luminous tube r positioned in and following the extent of the slot in. said character without touching'the edges thereof, and separate means for supporting said tube from said face, the ,color of, said sign face beingof a substantially lighter hue than the color of said character.

' insulating means `for 9.`In combination, a sign face. a slotted char--4 acter, means for. supporting said character from" said face, a luminous tube-,positioned in and following the extent of the-slot in said character without touching the edgesthereof, and separate' supporting saidtube fromsaid face. V

10.`In combination, a sigri face,'a group of supports'extendlng outwardly fromlsaid sign face, a

slotted character. positioned on said supports and removably attached thereto, a second group of supports, and a luminous tube positioned in and f following the extent ofk said character without touching the edges thereof and maintained in said position by attachment to said second group of supports.

1L In combination,'a sign face, a slotted characte'r, a luminous tube, means for directly supporting said tube from said sign face in spaced relation with said sign face, means for removably supporting sid'slotted characterwith said tube positioned in and following theslot in said character without touchingthe edges thereof, said character being-removablewithout disturbing the position of said tube in relation to said' sign face. 'HAROLD HOTCHNER. i 

